Academy Award-winning actress Kathy Bates knows how important it is to present your best face to the world — and one of the most important features of that face is a beaming smile. But there came a point when she noticed something was a little off. “I've always had good teeth, but it seemed to me as I was getting older that they weren't looking as good,” Kathy explained in a recent interview with Dear Doctor magazine.

That's when she decided it was time to take action. Kathy had orthodontic treatment when she was in her fifties, and she keeps her smile bright with tooth whitening treatments. She uses a kit provided by her dentist with a safe, effective whitening solution.

Of course, a bright, healthy smile looks great anywhere — whether you're on the red carpet or “off the grid.” And you don't have to be a Hollywood star to have professional whitening treatments. In fact, teeth whitening is one of the most popular and affordable cosmetic treatments modern dentistry offers.

The basic options for professional teeth whitening include in-office bleaching or take-home kits. Both types of dentist-supervised treatments offer a safe and effective means of getting a brighter smile; the main difference is how long they take to produce results. A single one-hour treatment in the office can make your teeth up to ten shades lighter — a big difference! To get that same lightening with at-home trays, it would take several days. On the plus side, the take-home kit is less expensive, and can achieve the same results in a bit more time.

It's important to note that not all teeth can be whitened with these treatments. Some teeth have intrinsic (internal) stains that aren't affected by external agents like bleaches. Also, teeth that have been restored (with bonding or veneers, for example) generally won't change color. And you can't necessarily whiten your teeth to any degree: Every tooth has a maximum whiteness, and adding more bleach won't lighten it beyond that level. Most people, however, find that teeth whitening treatments produce noticeable and pleasing results.

What about those off-the-shelf kits or in-the-mall kiosks? They might work… or they might not. But one thing's for sure: Without a dentist's supervision, you're on your own. That's the main reason why you should go with a pro if you're considering teeth whitening. We not only ensure that your treatment is safe — we can also give you a realistic idea of what results to expect, and we will make sure that other dental problems aren't keeping you from having a great-looking smile.

For some time now, you’ve noticed things about your teeth and gums — your overall smile — that you would like to change. But you’re in unfamiliar territory: you don’t know where to begin.

Here, then, are a few basic cosmetic dentistry questions you should ask yourself and us to get you moving in the right direction.

Am I a candidate for cosmetic dentistry? Invariably, the answer is yes — there’s always a way to enhance your appearance, starting with basic hygiene or whitening. But whether you’re a candidate for a particular procedure will depend on a full examination of your mouth — a “smile analysis” — to assess its current condition and needs, and what cosmetic options would best fit those needs.

Are my expectations realistic? That will first depend on what we find with your smile analysis. It will, however, also include studying the bigger picture — how certain changes might affect not only your smile but your overall facial appearance. Your wants and desires are extremely important in this process, but they should also be balanced with a dose of reality — some things may not be in your best interest health-wise to undertake, or are not in keeping with basic aesthetic principles of beauty.

Will I be able to have an idea beforehand how the changes will look? We’ve come a long way in providing patients ways to preview their new smile before undertaking a procedure. It’s often possible to “see” your proposed smile through computer simulation, or in some cases “test drive” it with temporary (provisional) crowns or veneers. For restorations involving porcelain crowns, it may be possible to take your input and fine-tune the shape and color of the permanent crown before it’s completed.

What will it cost? This will depend on the treatment plan we develop. Some treatments like teeth whitening are relatively inexpensive, while procedures like dental implants or orthodontics are major investments. You should also consider the costs to your time — some treatments require only a single visit, while others may take months or even years to complete. Depending on your financial means and comfort level, cost will need to be factored into the final plan, as well as your expectations.

Since as many as 26 percent of older U.S. adults have lost all their teeth, there are a large number Americans who wear full removable dentures, also known as false teeth. You may be one of them.

How much do you know about dentures? See if you can answer the following questions connected with lost teeth and dentures.

Which word refers to the loss of all permanent teeth?

Atrophy

Prosthetic

Edentulism

Periodontal

What is the name given to the bone that surrounds, supports, and connects to your teeth?

Periodontal

Metacarpal

Tibia

Alveolar

What tissue attaches the teeth to the bone that supports your teeth?

Periodontal Ligament

Periodontal Muscle

Parietal Ligament

Achilles Tendon

When a person loses teeth, the stimulus that keeps the underlying bone healthy is also lost, and the bone resorbs or melts away. Pressure transmitted by dentures through the gums to the bone can accentuate this process, which is called

Dystrophy

Atrophy

Hypertrophy

None of the above

A device that replaces a missing body part such as an arm or leg, eye, tooth or teeth is referred to as

Robotic

Imaginary

Exotic

Prosthetic

When teeth have to be extracted, bone loss can be minimized by bone grafting. Bone grafting materials are usually a sterile powdered form of

Allograft (human tissue)

Xenograft (animal tissue)

Both

Neither

Wearers of full dentures must re-learn to manipulate the jaw joints, ligaments, nerves, and muscles to work differently in order to speak, bite, and chew. The name for this system of interconnected body mechanisms, originating with the root words for “mouth” and “jaw,” is

Boca biting

Stomatognathic

Periodontal

None of the above

A type of plastic that is artistically formed and colored to make prosthetic teeth and gums look natural is called

methyl methacrylate

beta barbital

rayon

polystyrene

Success in denture wearing depends on

The skill of the dentist

The talent of the laboratory technician

The willing collaboration of the patient

All of the above

Answers: 1c, 2d, 3a, 4b, 5d, 6c, 7b, 8a, 9d. How well did you do? If you have additional questions about full removable dentures, don’t hesitate to ask us.

You’ve been embarrassed for a while now by your yellowed, dull teeth. You’re ready for a change.

There’s a simple and cost-effective way to make that change: you can temporarily brighten your smile with teeth whitening, possibly at home. But before you try it, you should first have a dental examination to find out if whitening is the right choice for you.

First off, healthy teeth with outer enamel staining are the best candidates for whitening. Teeth and gums with tooth decay or periodontal (gum) disease should be treated first before undergoing whitening. A dental exam will uncover any health issues you may have with your mouth.

In the same vein, you’ll want to consider whitening carefully if you have dental work like veneers, crowns or implants. Unlike natural teeth, these non-biological materials won’t be affected by the bleaching agent. We can discuss any potential for color mismatch between your whitened natural teeth and your dental work during your examination.

A dental exam can also uncover one other crucial fact — what kind of tooth staining you have. There are two basic types: extrinsic, staining on the outside enamel as we’ve mentioned earlier; and intrinsic, staining that originates from inside a tooth. The whitening kits you purchase from a store and even some of the whitening techniques we use in the office only diminish extrinsic, not intrinsic staining. To address an intrinsically-stained tooth requires a much more involved, invasive clinical technique only performed by dental professionals.

Finally, a dental examination is a good discussion forum for helping you decide between a home kit and a clinical procedure. While DIY kits are effective for the most part, you won’t be able to precisely control the degree of brightness like we can. This could be important if you want a specific shade of whiteness, from a more subtle and natural shade to dazzling “Hollywood” bright. Shade control could also help minimize color mismatch with dental work.

In the end, we want to help you make the best choice for teeth whitening. Even if you decide to pursue whitening at home, we can offer you valuable advice on what to look for when you buy a kit and how to use it. That alone could help ensure you get the new, bright smile you desire!

Are you an adult who is looking for a simple approach to getting a straighter smile?

Braces aren’t just for kids anymore. In fact, more and more adults in Herndon, VA, are visiting our dentist Dr. Taraneh Zand to find out how orthodontic treatment can fix everything from crooked teeth to crowding. If you are a teen or adult who always wished that you had a straight smile but don't like the idea of metal braces. Invisalign will change the way you see braces.

Invisalign is an advanced orthodontic system that uses different custom-made clear aligners (similar to retainers) instead of metal brackets and wires to shift teeth around. Invisalign has helped countless patients get straighter smiles and you could be next. Of course, your candidacy for Invisalign will depend on several factors. Here are some things to consider to help you decide whether Invisalign is right for you.

Your Dental Problems

This is probably the biggest factor when it comes to whether or not you are right for Invisalign treatment. While this orthodontic treatment can handle a lot of different issues, if the problem you are dealing with is too severe or complex, then Invisalign might not be the most effective treatment. For example, Invisalign won’t be able to treat excessive overbites, as well as more complicated jaw or teeth movements.

Here’s what Invisalign can handle:

Minor crookedness and overlapping

Crowding

Gaps between teeth

Overbites

Underbites

Crossbites

Open bites

Your Age

If you are an older teen or an adult who wants to correct your misaligned smile then Invisalign might be ideal for you. Conversely, children and young teens won’t be right for Invisalign since their teeth and jawbone are still growing.

One reason may teens and adults turn to our Herndon, VA, general dentist for Invisalign is because they love the idea of being able to straighten their smile more discreetly. Transparent aligners mean that people won’t immediately know you are wearing braces.

Your Commitment

Invisalign is a very simple orthodontic treatment that fits into your lifestyle; however, since Invisalign aligners are removable we will need to make sure that you will be dedicated to wearing your aligners as much as possible in order to get the results you want. Yes, you can remove your aligners before meals and before brushing and flossing but the rest of the time you should be wearing your aligners (approximately 22 hours/day).

Here at Herndon Dental Arts, we believe that everyone should feel confident with their smiles. If you are dealing with crooked teeth, gaps between teeth or crowding in Herndon, VA, then call us today to find out whether Invisalign is the solution for you.

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